Switching assembly



y 7, 1963 A. J. KODA 3,089,010

SWITCHING ASSEMBLY Filed 001;. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 r Ar 34 36 M 34 36 INVENTOR.

36 58 v Aer/4M2 J. K004 M 72 2 *5 By 77mm, (018%Madmm, fiz 2% z% and MAL Arrow/5K9.

y 7, 1953 A. J. KODA 3,089,010

SWITCHING ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 TTOEA/E Ks.

United States Patent 3,089,010 SWITCHING ASSEMBLY Arthur J. Koda, Morton Grove, Ill., assignor to C. P.

Clare & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 848,263 Claims. (Cl. 200-87) This invention relates to a switching assembly and, more particularly, to a relay construction including new and improved means for mounting and operating a plurality of sealed switch units.

The desirable operating characteristics of scaled switch units, such as mercury contact switches or dry reed switches, have long been recognized, but the somewhat higher cost of these units has militated against their use in all but those applications in which the improved operating characteristics are essential. With the recent relative decrease in the cost of these units as compared with conventional telephone type relays, and with the increasing demand for high reliability components in data handling systems, such as computers and automated machine tools, the demand for sealed switch units has greatly increased. These sealed switch units generally comprise contact making and interrupting components which are contained in a tubular or cylindrical dielectric envelope or housing and which are connected to external circuits by terminals projecting out of one or both ends of the envelope. Because of the shape and construction of the individual sealed switch units, a number of problems are encountered in easily and economically manufacturing suitable supporting and operating means for the switch units. Further, because of the use of a number of the individual switch units in a single circuit or apparatus, it has become necessary to provide supporting and operating means for the units that are small in size and easily assembled. As an example, the copending application of Arthur J. Koda, Serial No. 731,390, filed April 28, 1958, now Patent No. 3,038,976, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, discloses a switching assembly in which a plurality of scaled switch units are carried on a printed circuit board received within a common operating winding.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved switching assembly.

Another object is to provide a switching assembly including new and improved means for supporting and operating a plurality of sealed switch units.

A further object is to provide a switching assembly including a supporting member having a plurality of spaced finger portions on each of which a sealed switch unit and an operating winding are mounted.

A further object is to provide a relay construction including a printed circuit panel including a base portion providing an electrical connector and a plurality of finger portions for supporting operating windings and switches that are connected to the electrical connector by a printed circuit pattern.

Another object is to provide a sealed switch unit comprising an elongated dielectric envelope from which extend one or more terminals having one portion coaxial with the envelope and another portion aligned with the side of the envelope.

in accordance with these and many other objects, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a dielectric panel or board including a common base portion from one edge of which a plurality of narrow finger portions extend. One or both surfaces of the panel is provided with a printed circuit pattern including conductive segments extending from opposite ends of the finger portions to the opposite edge of the base portion. A plurality of sealed switch units each comprising a gen- 3,089,010 Patented May 7, 1963 erally tubular or cylindrical dielectric housing from the opposite ends of which a pair of terminals extend are mounted on the finger portions of the panel with pairs of the sealed switch units positioned on opposite sides of each of the finger portions. The terminals of the sealed switch units are provided with a first portion generally coaxial with the cylindrical envelope and a second portion generally aligned with the side walls of the envelope. The second portions of the terminals engage the conductive segments in the printed circuit pattern on the panel and are connected thereto, as by soldering, to electrically and physically connect the sealed switch units to the panel.

To provide means for operating the pairs of switch units mounted on the various finger portions, an operating winding is slid-ably mounted on each of the finger portions to encircle or surround the two sealed switch units mounted thereon. In order to maintain the windings in this predetermined position, the free ends of the finger portions are notched to receive tongues on a locking plate that serves not only to secure the operating windings in predetermined positions, but also to space the upper end of the printed circuit panel from a protective metal housing into which the printed circuit panel and the components carried thereon are inserted. The lower end of the printed circuit panel is spaced from the housing and the lower end of the housing is closed by a generally U-shaped element having a slot in the bight portion thereof through which the lower end or" the base portion of the panel extends to provide a male connector. The printed circuit panel and the elements secured thereto are detachably secured within the housing by a pair of L-shaped clips each having one leg portion received within a notch formed in the side edge of the panel and a second leg portion detachably secured to the housing.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following de tailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switching assembly embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-4; in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, assuming that the entire switching assembly is shown therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, again assuming that the complete construction is illustrated therein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2, assuming that the entire construction is shown therein;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 2, again assuming that the complete construction is illustrated therein; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the relay construction with the sealed switch units and operating windings therefor removed.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1-3 and 7 of the drawings, therein is shown a switching assembly, indicated generally, as 10, which embodies the present invention and which includes a dielectric panel 12 having a common or base portion 14 and a plurality of finger portions 16 extending outwardly from an upper edge of the base portion 14. The panel 12 is provided with a printed circuit pattern comprising a plurality of electrically conductive segments secured to both sides of the panel. Two sealed switch units 18 are positioned on opposite sides of each of the finger portions 16, and the terminals of these switch units are soldered to the adjacent portions of the printed circuit pattern to electrically and mechanically connect the switch units 18 to the printed circuit board .12.

To provide means for operating the pairs oi switch units 18, an operating winding 20 is mounted on each of the finger portions 16 to surround or encircle the pair of switch units 18 mounted thereon. The windings 20 are held in a proper position on the finger portions 16 by a locking plate 22 which engages the upper ends of the finger portions, the plate 22 also serving to properly locate or space the upper end of the panel r12 within the upper end of a metal housing 24 into which the panel 12 and the components mounted thereon are inserted. A generally U-shaped dielectric spacer element 26 that is slotted to receive the lower end of the panel 12 positions the lower end of this panel in a predetermined position within the housing 24 and is held in position by two latch elements 28 which engage notches in the panel 12 to secure it in position within the housing 24.

Referring now more specifically to the sealed switch units 18, these units can be of any of the constructions well known in the art, such as the dry reed relay shown and described in detail in Ellwood Patent No. 2,289,830. In general, the switch unit 18 comprises an elongated tubular or cylindrical dielectric housing 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3) containing magnetically actuated contact elements for selectively making or interrupting an electrical circuit. These contact elements are connected to a pair of terminal elements 32 that project outwardly from opposite ends of the dielectric envelope 30. In accordance with the present invention, the terminals 32 each include a first portion 32a that is generally aligned with the axis of the envelope 30 and a second integrally formed portion 32b that is generally aligned with the side wall of the envelope 39 or is spaced outwardly from the first portion 32a a distance substantially equal to the radius of the cylindrical envelope 30. The first and second portions 32a and 32b of the terminal 32 are interconnected by an inclined portion 320. All or parts of the terminal portions 32a, 32b and 32c can be formed with a flat surface. By providing the second portions 32b on the terminals 32 that are oifset from the coaxial or first portions 32a, the portions 3212 will engage the printed circuit pattern when the switch units 18 are placed against the surface of the panel 12.

As indicated above, the printed circuit board or panel 12 includes the plurality of finger portions '16 on which the pairs of switch units 18 and the opera-ting windings 20 therefor are mounted and also includes a printed circuit pattern for connecting these components to the panel 12. In general, the printed circuit pattern that is provided on both surfaces of the dielectric board 12 includes a plurality of discrete electrically conductive or metal toil segments that extend from various positions on the board 12 to the lower edge of the base portion 14. The lower edge of the base portion 14 projects outwardly from the housing 24 to provide a male electrical connector for interconnecting the switching assembly with external circuits. The printed circuit can be formed on the panel 12 by any of the methods well known in the art.

The surface of the panel 12 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings includes a plurality of conductive segments 34, each of which extend from the lower edge of the base portion '14 to a point adjacent the lower end of one of the finger portions 16. The board 12 is also provided with a plurality of conductive segments 36 that extend from the lower edge of the base portion 14 to the upper ends of the finger portions 16, the segments 36 each being provided with an olfset intermediate portion 361: that permits the upper end of the segment 36 to be aligned with the related'segment 34. In addition, the panel 12 includes a plurality of segments 38- for providing electrical connections to the windings 20. The printed circuit pattern provided by the segments 34, 36 and 38 on the reverse side of the board 12 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2. More specifically, the reverse side of the base portion 14 of the board 12 is provided with conductive segments identical to the segments 34 which are disposed directly behind the illustrated segments 34. The segments 38 on the reverse side of the board 12 underlie the lower end-s of the segments 36 shown in FIG. 2, and the lower ends of the segments 36 on the reverse side of the board v12 are behind the segments 38 illustrated in FIG. 2. This relative disposition of the segments 34,36 and 38 is indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

When the switching assembly 10 is to be assembled, the sealed switch units 18 are positioned on the opposite sides of the finger portions 16 with the end portions 32b of the terminals 32 engaging the upper ends of the segments 34 and 36. These terminalsare then soldered to the engaged portions of the conductive segments 34 and 36 to electrically and mechanically mount the switch units 18 on both sides of the printed circuit board 12. Because of the provision of the oifset end portions 32b of the terminals 32 on the switch units 18, the sealed switch units 18 can be mounted against the opposite sides of the dielectric panel 12 merely by soldering the terminals 32 to the adjacent portions of the printed circuit pattern and without requiring the iormation of either enlarged or recessed areas on the panel 12 or the use of special connectors or terminal adaptors.

After the pairs of switch units 18 are mounted on the finger portions 16, a coil or winding 20 is placed over each of the finger portions 16 to encircle or surround the two switch units 18 mounted thereon. The coil 20 is so mounted that the lower edge thereof engages or rests on an upper edge 14;: of the base portion 14. In order to electrically interconnect the windings 20 with the printed circuit pattern on the board 12, the free end of one of the leads to each of these windings is inserted through an opening ill-from the back surface of the board 12 to the front surface thereof and is soldered to the upper end of one of the conductive segments 38 (FIG. 2). The free end of the other lead for each of the windings 20 is inserted downwardly (FIG. '2) through a plurality of holes 42 to be soldered to one of the segments 38 secured to the back surface of the panel' 12. Thus, the windings 20 are electrically connected to the printed circuit pattern on the board 12.

To provide means for securing the windings 20 in their proper positions on the finger portions 16 and in order to space the upper end of the panel 12 from the housing 24, the lockingplate 22' is provided. This plate (FIGS. 2, 4 and 7) includes two end portions 42 and 44 of a length approximately equal to the width of the housing The plate 22 also includes a plurality of shorter tongue portions 46, the edges of which are received in notches 48 formed in opposite edges of the upper ends of the finger portions 16. The tongues 46 are interposed between the finger portions 16 so as to maintain them in a proper spaced position and overlie the upper ends of the windings 20 to hold them in engagement with the upper edge 14a of the base portion 14 of the printed circuit panel 12. To insulate the windings 20 from contact with the housing 24, a layer 50 of dielectric material is wrapped around these windings. The dielectric layer 50 also aids in maintaining these windings in a proper position on the panel 12.

When the printed circuit panel 12 and the components mounted thereon are inserted into the open lower end of the housing 24, the end portions 42 and 44 of the locking plate 22 correctly position the board 12 relative to the front and back walls of the housing. The length of the locking plate 22 is such that the board 12 is located in a correct position relative to the side walls of the housing 24. To provide a means for insulating and suitably spacing the lower end or base portion 14 of the panel 12 from the housing 24, the U-shaped spacer element 26 is provided. The element 26'includes a pair of leg portions 26a and 26b, which slidably engage the front and back walls of the housing 24, and a bight portion 26c defining a slot 52 through which the lower end of the panel 12 extends. Thus, the spacer element 26 centers the panel 12 relative to the side and the front and back walls of the housing 24 and electrically insulates the printed circuit pattern and the terminals 32 from inadvertent contact with the walls of the housing.

To provide a means for detachably securing the panel 12 within the housing 24 and to provide means for holding the spacer element 26 in position, the pair of L-shaped locking elements 28 is provided. Each of these elements includes a horizontally extending leg 28a that is received within a notch 54 formed in the side edge of the base portion 14 of the panel 12 and a vertically extending leg 28b that is detachably secured to the side wall of the housing 24 by a machine screw 56. When the panel 12 is to be inserted into the open end of the housing 24, the spacer element 26 is slipped over the lower end of the base portion 14 and the ends of the horizontal legs 28a on the locking elements 28 are inserted into the notches 54. The panel 12 is then advanced into the housing 24 until a pair of openings 58 (FIGS. 3 and 7) in the vertical legs 28b of the locking elements 28 move into alignment with a pair of openings 60 (FIG. 7) in the side walls of the housing 24. The machine screws 56' are then threaded into the aligned openings 5-8 and 60 to secure the locking elements 28 in place. Thus, the printed circuit panel 12 and the components mounted thereon are correctly positioned within and insulated from contact with the housing 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the lower edge or end of the base portion 14 to which the ends of the segments 34, 36 and 38 extend projects downwardly below the lower end of the housing 24 to provide a male connector element by which the switch units 18 and the operating windings 20 are connected to external circuits.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and the scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric base member having a plurality of spaced portions projecting from one edge thereof, a plurality of sealed switch units each mounted on one of said portions, and a plurality of operating windings each surrounding one of said portions and the switch unit mounted thereon.

2. The switching assembly set forth in claim 1 including an electrical connector formed on said base member on the edge thereof opposite to said projecting portions, and means carried on said base member for electrically connecting said switch units to said electrical connector.

3. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric panel including a base portion from one edge of which a plurality of spaced finger portions extend, a plurality of scaled switch units, a pair of said sealed switch units being mounted on opposite sides of each of said finger portions, and a plurality of operating windings each slidably mounted on one of said finger portions to encircle the pair of scaled switch units mounted thereon.

4. The switching assembly set forth in claim 3 including an electrical connector on another edge of said base portion, and means connecting said windings and said switch units to said electrical connector.

5. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric panel including a base portion from one edge of which a plurality of spaced finger portions extend, a plurality of sealed switch units, a pair of said sealed switch units being mounted on opposite sides of each of said finger portions, a plurality of operating windings each slidably mounted on one of said finger portions to encircle the pair of sealed switch units mounted thereon, means on said base portion spaced from said one edge forming an electrica-l connector, and a printed circuit pattern on said panel interconnecting said switch units and said electrical connector.

6. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric panel including a base portion from which a plurality of spaced finger portions extend, a plurality of pairs of electrically conductive segments secured to said panel, each pair of said segments including a first segment positioned on said base portion and a second segment positioned on one of said spaced finger portions, a plurality of sealed switch units each positioned on one of said finger portions and each including a pair of terminals secured to the first and second segments of a pair thereof, and a plurality of windings each mounted on one of said finger portions to encircle the switch unit mounted thereon.

7. The switching assembly set forth in claim 6 in which each of said second segments includes an end portion extending to the edge of the base portion of said base that is spaced from the finger portions, and in which said end portions of said second segments are disposed between adjacent ones of said first segments to provide an electrical connector for said switching assembly.

8. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric panel formed with a plurality of projecting portions, an electrically conductive circuit pattern secured to at least one surface of said panel and including an electrically conductive segment extending along each of said projecting portions, a plurality of scaled switch units each having terminals projecting from opposite ends thereof, said switch units being mounted on said projecting portions with one of the terminals on each of said units disposed adjacent one of said segments, means connecting said terminals to said circuit pattern, and a win-ding slidably mounted on each of said projecting portions and encircling one of Said switch units.

9. A switching assembly comprising a dielectric panel including a common base portion from the upper edge of which a plurality of spaced finger portions extend, a pair of first electrically conductive segments secured to opposite sides of each of said finger portions and each extending from adjacent the end of the finger portion to adjacent the lower edge of said base portion, a pair of second electrically conductive segments secured to opposite sides of said base portion adjacent each of said finger portions, each of said second conductive segments extending from a point adjacent one of said finger portions to adjacent the lower edge of said base portion and each of said second conductive segments being disposed between adjacent ones of said first conductive segments, a plurality of elongated and sealed switch units each including a pair of terminals, a pair of said switch units being positioned on opposite sides of each of said finger portions, means connecting one terminal of each of said switch units to a first conductive segment and the other terminal of each of said switch units to a second conductive segment, and a plurality of windings each mounted on one of said finger portions and encircling the pair of switch units mounted thereon.

10. The switching assembly set forth in claim 9 includ ing a plurality of third electrically conductive segments secured to both sides of said base portion and extending to the lower edge thereof, and means connecting said third segments to said windings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,506 Buch Mar. 3, 1953 2,707,274 Kough Apr. 26, 1955 2,823,360 Jones Feb. :11, 1958 2,850,681 Horton Sept. 2, 1958 2,903,536 McBrian Sept. 8, 1959 2,903,627 McGarvey Sept. 8, 1959 

1. A SWITCHING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DIELECTRIC BASE MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM ONE EDGE THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF SEALED SWITCH UNITS EACH MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID PORTIONS, AND A PLURALITY OF OPERATING WINDINGS EACH SURROUNDING ONE OF SAID PORTIONS AND THE SWITCH UNIT MOUNTED THEREON. 